Thomas Boni Yayi

Thomas Boni Yayi (1 July 1952-) was President of Benin from 6 April 2006, succeeding Mathieu Kerekou.

Biography
Thomas Boni Yayi was born on 1 July 1952 to a Sunni Muslim family, but he later converted to Evangelical Protestantism. He studied economics and politics in France and West Africa, and from 1977 to 1989 he worked with the Central Bank of West African States before serving as an economic adviser to President Nicephore Soglo. In 2006, Boni Yayi won elections to become President of Benin as an independent candidate, and he was reelected in 2011. Despite his popularity, some attempts were made on his life, including a 15 March 2007 ambush on his convoy and a 23 October 2012 attempt by his doctor, niece, and former commerce minister to poison him was also foiled.